Sven,
Thanks for posting the articles. As a researcher I’ve learned that you can’t rely solely on what got printed in newspapers. So often the information got distorted, misconstrued, exaggerated, etc. Mark Twain once said “If you don't read the newspaper, you're uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you're mis-informed.”
For similar reasons you can’t rely solely on what was sketched out on paper by architects, as so often it was very different than what actually got built.
In response to your comments above:
Pittsburgh: I have seen the references to MacKenzie and Hunter at Pittsburgh, but it is still unclear if the course ever got built, and if so who was responsible for what. Some people think the existing Delta View Golf Course was the MacKenzie/Hunter course, but it’s hard to know because the routing was significantly reconfigured decades ago. I have never seen any photos or plans, and the project was never referenced in any of the American Golf Course Construction adverts.
Capuchino: I had forgotten this course was built and didn’t last long, but neither MacKenzie or Hunter were involved with designing or building it. I believe it was done by Max Behr but don’t quote me on that.
Woodside: We know for sure the course was never built (unfortunately) due to financial/investor issues. I’ve been to the land (still undeveloped), have the club prospectus and routing map. To me that’s one that really stings because it could have been among MacKenzie’s best.
Dana Point: Yep, I am aware that MacKenzie and Hunter surveyed the land and planned a course. That’s another one that could have been really good.
Sharp Park: It makes sense the paper would have reported it that way because of the MacKenzie/Hunter partnership that was prevalent in the Bay Area in the preceding years, but by the time construction got going Hunter Senior was retired and living in Montecito full time. I have never seen any evidence that suggests Senior was involved or even visited the site.
Rio Del Mar: I’ve seen this reference and others before, but again this does’t really prove Hunter was there or even involved. It was an existing course that got a facelift during the same time MacKenzie was building Pasatiempo (they are both in Santa Cruz) which was also during the same time Hunter was building Valley Club. I have come across one photo of a green that looks as if MacKenzie had his way with it, but I haven’t seen any evidence to suggest Hunter was ever on site.
Of course, all of this is somewhat moot, because as Tom and others have pointed out, we really don’t have a good understanding of the inner workings of the MacKenzie/Hunter partnership. Believe me, I’m a huge Hunter fan, but it’s very difficult to draw conclusions about his artistic/design abilities based on the work he did in conjunction with Dr. MacKenzie.
Josh:
Responding to your list above:
1. The connection (if there was one) to Pittsburgh is unverified and doesn't seem very likely.
2. Capuchino was never built.
Capuchino was built, and later became El Camino GC.
3. Woodside was never built.
Woodside remains a mystery to me. In addition to the articles below noting work on constructing the course was actually taking place, the 1931 Annual Guide notes the course had opened in June of 1931.
4. There is that picture of the fellas in front of the Dana Point water tower, but that course was never built.
Agreed that the course was never built, and there is more proof that Mackenzie and Hunter were there than just a picture.
5. Hunter Senior was not involved with Sharp Park (Junior oversaw construction and grow-in).
Hunter Sr. was at the very least initially noted as having been retained along with Mackenzie to do the design. The timing of this announcement is curious, as the Mackenzie/Egan partnership had been formed in March of 1929.
6. His involvement at Seascape and Aptos Beach is unverified as far as I know.
The project was also known as Rio Delmar.
7. Despite such references, MacKenzie and Hunter were not involved with Mare Island.
Agreed.